Earl Swift began writing for a living in his teens. In the years since, the Virginia-based journalist has penned five books and hundreds of major features for newspapers and magazines, and has earned a reputation for fast-moving narrative and scrupulous reporting. His work for Norfolk's Virginian-Pilot was nominated five times for a Pulitzer Prize.

A former Fulbright fellow, Swift is currently a residential fellow of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He has a 20-year-old daughter, Saylor, and is engaged to the wondrous Amy Walton of Virginia Beach.